According to the National Institutes of Health, having diabetes more than doubles the risk of a man experiencing erectile dysfunction, or ED. Between 20 and 75% of men with diabetes experience ED, compared to about one in every five men without a chronic health condition. That’s because diabetes can cause nerve and artery damage that can make achieving an erection difficult.

ED is a much more common occurrence in the general population than most people realize. ED can be caused by a variety of physical and psychological factors, including stress, low self esteem, disease, surgery, injury, and tobacco, drug and alcohol use. There are over 200 medications that can cause or contribute to ED. Diabetes medications are not among them.

Almost all men will experience ED at some point in their life, especially as they get older. There are now a number of effective treatments for ED, including lifestyle changes, prescription medication, and injections, pumps and pellets. Viagra and similar ED medication are among the top-selling prescription drugs in modern pharmaceutical history.

Impotence is a particular issue for single men who want to date. About.com guide Cory Silverberg posted a straightforward and reassuring article about the challenges of dating for single men with ED. To read Silverberg’s article >CLICK HERE.<

The Federal Drug Administration (FDA) is warning the public about a potentially dangerous dietary supplement being marketed on the internet for sexual enhancement. The product, a “herbal instant coffee”, contains hydroxythiohomosildenafil, a chemical similar to sildenafil, the active ingredient in Viagra. Both hydroxythiohomosildenafil and sildenafil can cause dangerously low blood pressure if taken with prescription drugs known as nitrates, including nitroglycerin. Symptoms of low blood pressure include dizziness, lightheadedness and nausea, caused by a reduction of the blood supply to the brain. (more…)